October 27th, 2015

On Thursday, October 15, 2015, the historian of Havana, Cuba, Dr. Eusebio Leal Spengler, visited Tulane University and gave a talked entitled “La Habana Vieja: una ciudad viva” at the Woldenberg Art Center. Dr. Leal outlined the decades-long process of restoring the historic core of Old Havana and the challenges of maintaining a balance between historical preservation and social restoration. He also addressed the ongoing structural, material, and economic difficulties inherent in an ongoing project that is supposed to both appeal to tourists and directly benefit the local community. In conclusion, Dr. Leal summarized the new challenges and hopes in fulfilling their goals in the wake of a burgeoning real estate market and increasingly normalized relations with the U.S.

On Friday, October 16, Dr. Leal met with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. Major Landrieu indicated he is pleased with re-establishment of Cuban-U.S. relations. Also present were Mr. Romy Gonzalez, president of INCUBASO, Mario Robaina, vice president of INCUBASO, and political counselor of the Cuban Embassy in the U.S., Jesús Pérez.Click here to read the full article about Dr. Leal’s visit with the mayor (in Spanish).